Medical treatment device utilizing ultrasonic wave

Abstract

A medical treatment device for resecting, e.g., a prostate or breaking a bladder stone, which includes a vibrator for generating ultrasonic vibrations, a horn connected to the vibrator, a casing for accommodating the vibrator and the horn, a probe connected to the front portion of the horn to transmit ultrasonic vibrations generated by the vibrator, and a power source unit for supplying a drive voltage to the vibrator, the power source unit having an oscillator for producing a wave having a frequency for vibrating the probe and a frequency switching circuit for selecting an oscillating frequency at which the distal end of the probe serves as a loop of vibration or a frequency at which the distal end of the probe serves as a node of vibration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasonic treatment device, comprising: means for generating ultrasonic vibrations;   elongated probe means having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said proximal end portion being connected to said ultrasonic vibration generating means, said probe means being vibrated by said ultrasonic vibration generating means for resecting a tissue contacting said distal end portion of said probe means;   detecting means for detecting an amplitude variation or a frequency variation of vibration of said probe means arising from a physical property of the tissue contacted by the distal end portion of said probe means, and for producing a detection signal which is a function of the detected amplitude or frequency variation of vibration of said probe means;   comparing means for comparing a level of said detection signal from said detecting means with a predetermined signal level and for generating a driving signal when the difference between said detection signal and said predetermined signal level exceeds a predetermined value; and   safety means coupled to said comparing means for at least one of generating an alarm in response to said driving signal from said comparing means, and stopping a vibration of said probe means in response to said driving signal generated by said comparing means.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic vibration generating means includes a horn connected to said proximal end portion of said probe means. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a casing means surrounding said ultrasonic vibration generating means and said horn. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic vibration generating means and said probe means respectively define internal channels cooperatively coupled together to form a common channel, and further comprising means coupling said common channel to a suction unit. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 2, wherein said elongated probe means has two ends, and further comprising disconnectable connecting means formed at both ends of said probe means, for selectively connecting each of said ends of said probe means to said horn, thereby permitting changing an attachment direction of said probe means. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 5, wherein said connecting means at both ends of said probe means comprises screw means. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 1, wherein said probe means has a bent portion at its distal end portion. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 6, wherein said probe means has a bent portion at its distal end portion. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 1, wherein further comprising a casing means surrounding said ultrasonic vibration generating means, and wherein said ultrasonic vibration generating means comprises a vibration element and electrode plates coupled to said vibration element, said vibration element and said electrode plates being insulated from said casing means by spacing insulating layers. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim 9, wherein each of said insulating layers is formed of ceramic material. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim , wherein said ultrasonic vibration generating means and said probe means respectively define internal channels cooperatively coupled together to form a common channel, and further comprising means coupling said common channel to a suction unit; and said common channel is branched substantially at its midpoint into a branch channel, said branch channel extending from a rear portion of said casing means in an axial direction of said probe means, and defining an opening for inserting a treatment tool therein.   
     
     
       12. The device of claim 11, wherein said branch channel comprises a valve coupled thereto. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a rotary member at least partly defining said channels, and being rotatable about said casing means.